Arthur T. Demoulas: Working class hero

One of New England's biggest headlines of the summer, was the ousting of Market Basket CEO Arthur T. Demoulas (Arthur T, or ATD as he's affectionately called by employees) and two other top executives by the Market Basket board of directors, who are also his family. This in itself isn't really news, as execs get axed all the time and it's just business as usual.
What happened next is where the story spikes. The employees of Market Basket, (all non Union) in a move to show solidarity for their beloved chief, Arthur T., orchestrated a grassroots workforce strike the next day; with the brutal effectiveness of a megaton bomb. The workers ultimatum: they wouldn't return to work until ATD was reinstated as chief. Yesterday, August 28, 2014, (two months later) after intense news coverage, social media bombardment and two governor's pleas, the saga came to a peaceful and amicable ending. Arthur T. and his constituents finalizing a $1.5 billion buyout, resulting in ATD having a >50% share in Market Basket, and thus, control.

"Some industry analysts put the loss from the job action at more than $10 million a day."- Bloomberg News- Market Basket Revolt Ends as Arthur T. Demoulas Wins Bid

The genesis of the argument & what was at stake, was a difference in opinion on how profits should be distributed at Market Basket: a privately held, 71 store grocery chain, with $4 billion sales/year. Arthur T. believed that the wealth should be distributed back to the employees in the form of profit sharing, whereas the Chairman, Arthur S. Demoulas and supporters felt the money was better spent giving back to the shareholders- Demoulas family members.
This is one of the greatest case studies i've been fortunate to experience and learn from, first hand. I think this summertime Market Basket fiasco represents a historical precedence in labor relations, wealth distribution and bottom line economics. As Arthur T. Demoulas, in a heartfelt victory speech to employees said yesterday-
"As I stand before you, I am in awe of what you have accomplished, and the sterling example you have all set, for so many people across the region, and across the country."
Watch the highlights here, for one of the most honest speeches i've heard in my lifetime. https://social.newsinc.com/media/json/69017/26559884/singleVideoOG.html?type=VideoPlayer%2F16x9&widgetId=2&trackingGroup=69017&videoId=26559884#.U__e6Qh-C3k.twitter

Tribute to my European wedding holiday,

Summer solstice 2014 Home is where you lay your head.


Sanchez - Longing To Come Home

European Union holiday

After nearly two weeks in Europe, I feel truly blessed. Flying first to Cyprus, to celebrate the marriage of two best friends.  We were treated to a great tour of the island nation, from a local's perspective.

A&A, took us through the island and visited his family home and the Capitol city Nicosia, then off to the east side of the island to Proteras and the Grecian Park Hotel. It was beautiful and the beaches and cliffs were idyllic and hearkened me back to my greek mythology memories from childhood. From there we were off to Pissouri, with a sleepy fishing bay/resort, and a historic mountain village with central square , beautiful coastline surrounded by on the south coast

After a week in Cyprus, I traveled north to Stockholm, Sweden, to visit the bustling Nordic capitol and see the European Union from it's furthest reaches.

This trip coincided with the summer solstice June 21, 2014- which is my favorite time of the year- The longest day of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere, with days at their longest and warm, clear nights, glistening with starry skies.

It was a relaxing and comfortable vacation with some of my best friends, while making new ones along the way (below pic is my buddy Ahmed from the Hötorget (Haymarket) down the street from my hotel. Ahmed hooked me up with some trinkets.

The Double Bomb Nor'easter- 03/26/2014

img credit Earthnullschool.net
In a winter ripe with Atlantic storms, Nor'easter's and blizzards, the latest rendition was historic. A wind gust of 129 mph was measured on Wednesday at the Bay of Fundy

img credit NASA
Storm systems are generally measured in two ways; wind speed and barometric pressure. Barometric pressure is commonly measured in millibars(mbar): with sea level being 1013.25 mbar and 1 bar= 14.5 psi. Numbers above 1013 mbar are considered High Pressure, whereas below 1013 mbar are termed Low Pressure. The lower the pressure= the stronger the storm. If 0 millibars= perfect vacuum, think BLACK HOLE. The most historic (of recent times) Nor'easter is definitely, the Halloween "1991 Perfect Storm", for which a Hollywood film was made, depicting the final voyage of Andrea Gail; a fishing boat lost in the storm. The Perfect Storm had a registered pressure of 972 mbar, Wednesday's 'Double Bomb Nor'easter' was registered at 955 mbar.

I went to marinetraffic.com during the height of the storm, to see if any ships were bearing the storm. As I scanned the map for any ships close to the Double Bomb storm center, I see only ONE single vessel in the entire North Atlantic maritime region. I figured it was probably a 1000 ft container ship, plowing the (~75ft) seas on a transatlantic voyage, nope.

As I zoomed into the map, I notice the 'ship' is close to this small landmass out in middle of the ocean, east of Nova Scotia, called Sable Island. I click on the small vessel icon to see the track.

Now, it all makes sense:
The 81 meter/261ft Panuke (below pic); a heavy duty, North Atlantic supply vessel, was taking refuge in the protection of the crescent shaped, Sable Island. a small blip of a sandbar, nearby its destination, the Thebaud natural gas platform. Mind you, the above screen capture was taken yesterday, 24 hrs later, and the Panuke, remains there today, jogging in little circles, two days later.

As I talked with a friend who works in the maritime industry last night, I told him about the offshore supply 'boat', jogging behind this tiny island 150 km east of Nova Scotia (in the heart of the stormand asked if he'd ever heard of Sable Island, to which he responded, "That's the Island the Andrea Gail was trying to get to during The Perfect Storm"....

War in Syria.

After 3 years of civil war in Syria- with destruction reminiscent of the 1990's Yugoslav Wars; I'm amazed at how well built Syria's steel reinforced concrete buildings are. All sides of the war have been shelling the shit outta the infrastructure, which has held up quite well, given the sheer quantity of shells some buildings have taken.

What's even more intriguing to me is the and how many buildings were under construction during the beginning of the war. Signs of prewar construction are evident throughout Syria : geometric grids of unfinished concrete columns replete with exposed rebar sprouting out the tops, akin to giant cement carrots.

Philip Seymour Hoffman, RIP

Sadly, Phillip Seymour Hoffman's passing was, life imitating fiction; the great, tragic roles he played on screen and stage.http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/02/showbiz/philip-seymour-hoffman-appreciation/
One of my favorite actors, I scanned through Seymour Hoffman's body of work and I found it both ironic and sad, that his last theater work was in 2012, playing the lead role of Willy Loman in the iconic Author Miller play, Death of a Salesman, on Broadway. I was never a prolific reader in school, but the story of Willy Loman and his dysfunctional life was one story that struck a chord with me and made me reflect. Even if you haven't read the play, it's pretty easy to discern the outcome.
EPIC scene of Philip Seymour Hoffman playing Brandt, (with Jeff Bridges and David Huddleston) in_ The Big Lebowski
Yes, yes.

Borbyrygmi= Stomach Rumblings

T-Bone Walker said it best: "I woke up this morning, and I was in an awful mood". The Fatthew Challenge calzone would put a hurting on you- 5.5 pounds of mozzarella cheese, dough, chicken tenders, french fries, and mozzarella sticks.
To date, there have been over 100 attempts @ Scottie's Famous Pizza- None finishing.

Recycle America

As a young kid, I can remember holding an empty plastic strawberry container and wondering what I could do with it? Put a string on the pint sized, green, plastic basket and make a little tram out of it? There must be another use for this (seemingly) ingenious container (instead of just throwing it in the trash), I thought to myself.

Now, fast forward 30 years, my passion for recycling and has taken me through college, around New England, around the United States, and across the oceans. My quest for waste reduction and has played a vital role in my life.

“Freight and Barrel,” 2004, Three Rivers Arts Festival, Pittsburgh, crushed plastics. Steven Siegel.

After a month-long cross country to Montana, last winter, I came to the realization that what our country could benefit from is a good 'Spring Cleaning' to recycle all the unused, unwanted, or ignored infrastructure throughout the USA. Utilizing the USA's expansive and low cost railroad systems- A national, regional and/or local scrap recycling program would station railroad freight cars, strategically and geographically across the United states to saturate the whole USA, with Rolling Recycling Cans.

This freight could be shipped to recycling facilities and shipping ports, en route to smelters and blast furnaces across the globe.

This is already happening in Detroit (on a different level), where cash strapped Detroiter's are taking to old, abandoned factories and dismantling and recycle. We need to turn this desperation into middle america's gold rush.
I feel our consumer waste recycling (low weight/high volume) stream in the USA can learn a lot from the high weight/low volume business of scrap metal recycling. Hopefully people will just as passionate about recycling plastics, paper, and glass as Copper and Aluminum. http://www.freep.com/article/20131112/OPINION01/311120014/
rust belt scrap iron- help rebuild this country- through America's heartland- quest

Lee Lorch: mathematician + civil rights activist + professor + WWII vet= all around amazing guy

Lee Lorch, who is this guy I stumbled upon, while researching Stuyvesant Town? In my opinion, Professor Lorch (at 98 years young) should be given the Nobel Peace Prize, or similar type medal of commendation. Dr. Lorch, after receiving his Ph.D, worked in the war effort stateside, only to enlist during WWII in the US Army. After returning home after the war, and building upon the racial injustices seen in WWII, Lee Lorch began teaching Math and simultaneously began his own war against racial inequality in the United States of America. A recent NYTimes article (of which i borrowed the header picture) does a tasteful job of outlining this Colorful Patriot. A great tribute to Lee Lorch is given by Dr. Scott W. Williams, Professor of Mathematics, University of Buffalo

Jimi Hendrix and Time Magazine's (other) top 9 Lefties of all time.

While watching American Masters, "Jimi Hendrix- hear my train a comin" on PBS, I realized that in addition to being an innovator, icon, and one of the most talented musicians ever, Jimi Hendrix was also one of the most intelligent, humble, dynamic, and captivating Icons of the 20th century. Maybe unknowingly, Jimi was also a Patriot and beacon for social change, peace, justice, and individuality.

While in London, Jimmy died Sept, 1970- he was only 27 years old.

Here's Time magazine's top 10 Lefties
Barack Obama, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Babe Ruth, Napoleon Bonaparte, Leonardo da Vinci, Marie Curie, Aristotle, Ned Flanders, Jimi Hendrix,
Read more: Complete List - Top 10 Lefties - TIME http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1916052,00.html #ixzz2jpfEPwMY

Rocky was a Southpaw

Southpaw=Left handed fighter. Everybody knows that Apollo Creed and his management was weary of ROcky Balboa in Rocky. After the passing away of the venerable Tommy "the Duke" Morrison; who starred in Rocky V as Tommy Gunn, a character of himself, that would foreshadow Morrison's own downfall. After Morrison's passing on Sept. 1st, of complications from AIDS; I watched some Youtube videos of the great fighters of the 80's and 90's. Tommy was a great two handed boxer, who could hit hard with both hands. I found an interview from 2006, where he talks about fighting a southpaw from Russia in '96.http://www.boxingscene.com/tommy-morrison-still-walking-tall--3179 Anyways, here's a great interview with him My all time favorite was "Iron" Mike Tyson, not a lefty, but a two handed wrecking machine and in my opinion the best of modern times.

Uncle Fester and Bubbles jr.

I was working this past weekend into yesterday with two of the craziest dudes i've ever encountered- Uncle Fester and Bubbles jr. I didn't have enough, time, energy or wherewithal to snap a picture of these guys, but they were classic. They both looked and acted just like their namesakes, Bubbles is a character from the Iconic Canadian series- Trailer Park Boys. Bubbles jr. was from Southie and was more biker and had some USMC ink. Uncle Fester (his real nickname) was a cross between The Munster and Armish Puri- the bald headed guy from indiana jones. Fester was the boss, and he's the guy that contacted me about the work. I should have known it was gonna be a joke when he says, "can you work tomorrow" (Sunday)? What kind of contractor starts a job on a Sunday? We were to be jacking up a house and ripping out rotted framing members. I reluctantly agreed an OK'd the idea. Sunday was cool, and we just ripped off the old material worked for two days and basically got prepped for Monday- when we would jack the house up and take care of business. Monday, i wasn't on my game and these two knuckleheads had me all fucked up. "Work like Gentlemen"- to quote Mike Dangelo; would be easier said than done with Bubbles jr. and Uncle Fester.

Three Chirps

"The dreaded three chirps "

http://bit.ly/13mVmz4

Switzerland's conundrum

Although Switzerland is an armed neutral country, and Geneva is where humane war rules have been written (4 times)- it's a country of great intrigue to me. First, because of Switzerland's huge arms industry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Firearms_manufacturers_in_Switzerland
Second, because of their Swiss banking. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banking_in_Switzerland
Now, after watching Special Flight a POV (point of view) documentary tonight on PBS: about the immigration, deportation, and detainment of workers coming to make a better life for themselves. For a country with such high moral standards, this documentary piece is visceral.

Watch Special Flight - Trailer on PBS. See more from POV.

Tanya Stephens- These Streets- acoustic

Tanya Stephens - These Streets by elmokozo

Famous Left-handers

After visiting the great city of Bloomington, Indiana this winter-- which Dali Lama called "the center of the universe". I agree with his assertion that it could be the center of the universe, after seeing that they too, are left-hand centric.

Although I joke and tell people that left-handed citizens are minorities, living in an oppressed, right-handed world, I truly feel that our brains are wired differently. As I sit here and listen to the Howard Stern Show while Howard interviews Jerry Seinfeld, the iconic, irritable comedian, makes me think he's left handed. I do a quick Google check for famous lefts.

Low and behold, Indiana University has created a website devoted to cataloguing famous left-handed people in their primate department. http://www.indiana.edu/~primate/left.html

"Print is dead" - Dr. Egon Spengler

Most websites would kill for increased traffic. Buying ad-space from Google and increasing their online presence by cleaning up their pages with meta-tags blah, blah... So why is it that certain websites; mainly stodgy, old "newsprint networks" insist on driving away traffic? Requiring usernames and payment? I get it, they can't make money with print anymore, so they must resort to online revenue to keep them afloat.

Filling up the boarders with banner ads for Acai berry diets doesn't really pay, and instead of figuring out a better model for online marketing, news networks are incresingly require an account be created- the user may or not have to pay $$$ for the same news you can read for free by just googling.

I will choose the latter and not support the printing press dinosaurs. Instead, I'll rely on Google, Reuters, Associated Press, and social media- for free and current, news and events. Everybody out there is a journalist these days, with news/information being uploaded worldwide instantaneously through online publishing. Social media and independent news is the way it's gonna be, so get with the program.

Rectify

rec·ti·fy /ˈrektəˌfī/ Verb Put (something) right; correct: "mistakes made now cannot be rectified later". Purify or refine (a substance), esp. by repeated distillation: "rectified alcohol". Synonyms correct - amend - redress - straighten - emend - mend



 

Wooden bats in MLB

A few years ago, I began researching the rules and regulations of wooden bats used in Major League Baseball, MLB. With all the shattered baseball bats in recent years (blasting players and spectators), I began thinking about possible reasons for all the broken bats. The traditional species of wood used in baseball bats was Ash, a ring porous hardwood (similar to oak or hickory) specifically white Ash. I hypothesized that it was diffuse porous woods, such as Sugar Maple (acer saccharum) that was the main culprit.
And http://www.woodbat.org agrees, stating that- in the early 90's, bat manufacturers began using maple more often, likely because A. saccharum' physical properties are 5-10% > Ash.
MLB Official Rules:
1.10 (a) The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 23/4 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood. NOTE: No laminated or experimental bats shall be used in a professional game (either championship season or exhibition games) until the manufacturer has secured approval from the Rules Committee of his design and methods of manufacture. (b) Cupped Bats. An indentation in the end of the bat up to one inch in depth is permitted and may be no wider than two inches and no less than one inch in diameter. The indentation must be curved with no foreign substance added. (c) The bat handle, for not more than 18 inches from its end, may be covered or treated with any material or substance to improve the grip. Any such material or substance, which extends past the 18 inch limitation, shall cause the bat to be removed from the game. NOTE: If the umpire discovers that the bat does not conform to (c) above until a time during or after which the bat has been used in play, it shall not be grounds for declaring the batter out, or ejected from the game. (d) No colored bat may be used in a professional game unless approved by the Rules Committee.
What struck me when looking over the rules above /\ was what wasn't there- wood species. It's my feeling that not specifying wood species is important as size and weight regulations for Major League Baseball bats.
Here is a good article from NYTimes that I just found (from 2008) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/sports/baseball/25maple.html?_r=0.

We destroy and rebuild

This fuckin' house has taught me the 3 P's: Persistence, perseverance and pain.

Fall-itics

I was just thinking, I agree with being fiscally responsible and I don't think that people who don't do shit, should get paid big $$$. That being said, I think that people should look after another, and American's should take care of one another. I am independent. Thanks to Howard STern and his tirades about the Republicans wanting to end Planned Parenthood- "The Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Inc. (PPAF) is a related organization which lobbies for pro-choice legislation, comprehensive sex education, and access to affordable health care in the United States." from Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood It dawned on me just now a proposition for the Republican party: If you want to do away with birth control and abortion, than you must pay for the lives of unwanted children across this country. And if they (the republican party)say,... 'Well we are paying for them already, through social programs, welfare, food stamps, etc.' My response would be, Exactly.

GMC MotorHome

Iconic design. Here is a good compilation of images and media: http://squob.com/motorhomes/gmc-the-hot-wheels-rv/

Need production for construction

With the purchase of my new house, And it's ensuing gutting (renovation), I am seeking ways to document the process for teaching/learning purposes and sheer enjoyment factor of tearing up an old house and redoing it propper- efficiently, economically and environmentally.

Immigration Nation

As I scan through the channels on TV, I notice Border Wars, a documentary show on National Geographic detailing their 'war' on illegal immigrants. A few years ago, I remember hearing a very pertinent and fresh perspective on immigration: It's when people don't want to hop fences to come to America when we have real problems- meaning people wanting to risk their lives to come to America for a better life is a good thing. The USA is still the land of the American dream.

The proof: Immigrants aren't climbing fences, boarding boats, and traveling across deserts for a better life in Russia or China.   America is the land of freedom, democracy and opportunity.

Great White extravaganza

(Pic: Dead great white from Westport, MA. August/September 2012)
Ever since a 15 foot great white shark became trapped in a small lagoon just south of Woods Hole, MA (during the summer of 2004), Cape Cod has been a hotbed of great white activity and sightings. This summer, 2012 has been the most active, with regular sightings, beach closures, and an alleged attack in Truro.

Every kid from Cape Cod and the Islands (Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard) has probably seen Jaws a hundred times and was first subjected to the movie at the tender age of 5. (not) Much has changed since Jaws first hit theatres in 1975; locals still depend on summer tourists and affluent seasonal residents for their livelihoods. Much has changed from then and now- the great white shark is a protected species in the USA and research has been elevated across the planet, with Australia and South Africa at the forefront of study.

With all the promotion of the Discovery Channel's "Shark Week" circus, it's nice to see that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with shows titled- "Jaws Comes Home", is tagging the sharks and gaining much needed long term research into Atlantic great white sharks. What is disconcerting to me, is the lack of 'attention' that's really been paid to a clear and present danger: great white sharks possibly attacking swimmers and ruining the seasonal tourism for the Cape. A la Jaws- Mayor Vaughn: "I'm only trying to say that Amity is a summer town. We need summer dollars. Now, if the people can't swim here, they'll be glad to swim at the beaches of Cape Cod, the Hamptons, Long Island..."

What we Don't need are more shark wranglers and cowboys coming to Cape Cod to test their TV persona.

What we need is the BEST that marine science has to offer, like real-time satellite tags (available and used in AU for years) to track and research the sharks by the second, monitoring the threat. We do have some of the best centers for higher learning and marine studies in the nation and world abroad- it's time we lead by example, so we don't end up with a real problem.

The West indies and the ring of the Caribbean

Saint Martin island; smaller than Nantucket, yet divided between France and The Dutch.

My biggest fan and my greatest critic.

December 18, 2011 was the end of an era, the day we lost a great woman: Jane F. McCormick, my mother. She lived a hundred lives in the 70 years she graced this earth. And left her mark in many ways and touched many lives. Jane's spirit lives on in her three children, five grandchildren and countless jokes. My mom was as tenacious and brash; as she was, comforting and compassionate. I thank her for helping form my life and giving me strength. Until the day she died she was as opinionated and strong as the woman I will always remember- still laughing and arguing about politics and economics, till the day she died. She gave me a brother and sister, taught us important life lessons and made sure that we were taken care of. "Go tell your mother she loves you." I can still hear Mammy Jane bellow to her kids, grand-kids, or anyone else within earshot.

Origami corrugations

By Ray Schamp

looking south

Lewis Street, East Boston. feb 5, 12

Pine Street

I moved to New Orleans in March 2001, for work as a marketing manager at a lumber trade association. Having just graduated from UMass Amherst, I was happy to have a good paying job (any job) outside of New England. I was reaching for California, but New Orleans was good enough. I was chosen for the job over more seasoned candidates because; "I represented the future and the industry needed a shot in the arm", so I was told.

After I started work on April 1, I was immediately dispatched to the Southern Pine growing region to learn about the species I would be representing. Lumber towns, rural, quiet honest places in the deep south, places like: Pineville, Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama and Tylertown, Mississippi were part of my required training.

I already knew about Southern Pine, because I grew up on Pine Street, West Barnstable, Massachusetts, but it was meeting the people of the south that was my real education.

The Saxony Hotel

I lived across from this hotel, the Saxony on the 3200 block of Collins Ave, Miami Beach. One of the last great Art Deco resorts in Miami beach, this place was awesome, and definitely my favorite in Miami. I guess, partially because of the building's worn, dated deco looks and great design cues. Most intriguing to me was the top floor, with it's it's rows of over sized, unobstructed prairie style- picture windows and tall ceilings (est 15ft). The top floor was a club when the Saxony running.

The owners were in the process of gutting the property and building an adjacent tower with residential and guest rooms. Not sure what it looks like now. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxony_Hotel

THanks to http://elimperiomoderno.blogspot.com/2011/01/saxony-hotel.html for the photo

Still Left-Handed

Even though the world is right...


Guess who's back?
Pulled a Rip Van Winkle
and just took a little nap.

Last day for Blogger FTP

Today is the last day (or yesterday) for file transfer protocol (FTP) using blogger sourcing: http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/02/google-discontinuing-ftp-support-for-blogger-blogs/

Even though I own the domain name lefthandedliving.com and I host the site through a third party, I still use Blogger to create and publish my content- although my content is few and far between. Not sure what will happen.

So, until I figure this out.


Lata